Chuck Jackson

by John Smith: Jul 2009

When you have cut dozens & dozens of great tracks during a recording career that spans almost 50 years, how do you select the songs you will perform for your UK fans ? This is a problem that Chuck Jackson faces when preparing for his Prestatyn Weekender show. If he leaves out someone’s favorite track, then they will be disappointed. This though should be the only disappointment connected with Chuck’s performance, as he is renowned for putting on just about the most dynamic live show of any soul singer still performing. Chuck first recorded way back in 1959, with his most successful period being on the Wand label between 1961 and 1967. Chuck then joined Motown and got involved at Detroit’s 20 Grand Club. Here he would perform twice nightly in the Driftwood Lounge which he enjoyed immensely, finding the place clean & classy. In no time he was being hailed as the greatest performer to grace the room’s stage. In fact, he was the all time top attraction at the 20 Grand and out-grossed every act that ever appeared there. To out perform all the Motown stars on their home turf speaks volumes for his vocal and performing talents. Truly an aristocrat amongst soul singers, Chuck’s solo performing & recording career really kicked off after he was spotted on a show by Jackie Wilson. Jackie himself was known as “Mr. Entertainment” plus “Mr. Excitement” and he had earned those nicknames well. So to impress Jackie you had to be very good indeed, Chuck did just that.
Chuck Jackson was born & brought up in the Carolinas. He started singing in church and this led to him getting a singing spot on radio every Sunday. He won a musical scholarship to college and then auditioned for & joined the Raymond Raspberry Singers (a gospel outfit who were based out of Cleveland, Ohio). But Chuck was also attracted to the secular side of music and he started to write songs. A couple of his efforts impressed a local record store owner who took Chuck into the studio. After cutting them, they were released on a Petite label 45 in 1959. The guy then set it up for Chuck to join the Del-Vikings who had enjoyed a massive hit in 1957 with “Come Go With Me”. Whilst performing with this group, he continued to record as a solo artist (singles escaping on the Clock, Beltone, Atco, Alcar & Amy labels). On one of the group’s engagements, he was befriended by Jackie Wilson. Impressed, Jackie asked him to open the show (as a solo singer) on his upcoming stint at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem. This engagement really kick-started Chuck’s career and led to him being signed to a solo recording deal with New York based Scepter Records. In conjunction with Luther Dixon, Chuck wrote “I Don’t Want To Cry”. This, when released on the Wand label, went straight into the R&B charts (February 1961) where it peaked in the Top 10 (also making the US pop singles chart). His next two singles (“In Real Life” & “I Wake Up Crying”) also charted in 1961, but it was “Any Day Now” in 1962 that would become his biggest seller.

Written specifically for Chuck by Burt Bacharach & Hal David, “Any Day Now” was so successful that it was only held off the chart No.1 spot by Ray Charles “I Can’t Stop Loving You”. The record commenced a 5 year spell for Wand during which Chuck would enjoy 13 more national hit singles (“Since I Don’t Have You”, etc.), three of them being duets with Maxine Brown (“Something You Got” becoming the first). During that period, Doris Troy and Yvonne Fair also recorded with Chuck. Even before “Any Day Now” had hit, Chuck had been headlining tours across the States and by the mid 60’s he was established as one of the top male soul singers in the world. Chuck’s live work was so dynamic that Wand decided to record a few of his live performances. Tracks such as “Stubborn Kind Of Fellow” were included on compilation albums whilst two dedicated LP’s titled ‘Tribute to Rhythm and Blues’ were also issued in 1966. On these Chuck performed cover versions of popular songs from that period (including “You Don’t Know Like I Know”; “Barefootin'”; “Up Tight” & “Cool Jerk”). By the mid 60’s, Burt Bacharach had established himself as a major writer with his songs being popular with UK artists. In 1965, Burt was asked to appear on his own UK TV show and this was recorded in London. It was titled 'The Bacharach Sound' and starred Burt along with special guests such as Chuck Jackson, Dionne Warwick & Dusty Springfield. The show was broadcast here on April 14th and went down really well with the British TV audience. Chuck was featured on just the one number, "Any Day Now", but it helped cement the British admiration for Chuck that remains strong to this day. During the 5 years between “Any Day Now” and Chucks last Wand release (which actually came out in 1968, after he had left the label), he cut numerous fantastic dance tracks. Amongst those that have stood up well to the test of time are “In Between Tears”; “Any Other Way”; “Hand It Over”; “Good Things Come To Those Who Wait”; “What's With This Loneliness” and “Chains Of Love”. His last Wand chart entry was “Shame On Me”, released in November 1967, but by then Chuck’s relationship with Scepter’s Florence Greenberg was breaking down.
Chuck’s contract still had some time to run but his popularity in Detroit (& across the rest of the US) had led to a strong friendship with Smokey Robinson being built up. Smokey had been so impressed by Chuck that he had sounded him out about joining Motown. Following an argument with Florence Greenberg, he contacted Smokey who in turn got in touch with Berry Gordy. In no time, Chuck had the cheque needed to buy himself out of his Wand contract and he was signed by Motown. Chuck & Motown should have gone together like peaches & cream but unfortunately the teaming never really worked out commercially. His initial Motown single featured “Girls, Girls, Girls”, a great uptempo song written and produced by Smokey Robinson. It was publicized nationally in the States, but failed to make the charts. Chuck did however enjoy two US hits with Motown (“Are You Lonely For Me Baby” in spring 1969 and “Honey Come Back” in the fall of the same year) however he wasn’t really treated as a ‘first-string’ artist by the company. That said, Chuck did cut some fine tracks whilst with Motown. This fact was confirmed with the release of his double ‘Motown Anthology’ CD in 2005. The best of his Motown era recordings include “What Am I Gonna Do”; “Two Feet From Happiness”; “Ain’t No Sunshine Since You Been Gone”; “Fan The Flame”; “To See The Sun Again” and “Pin Point It Down”.

When his Motown contract expired in 1972, Chuck had a one off 45 release on Dakar; “I Forgot To Tell You”. 1973 saw him signed to ABC and back on the US charts, “I Only Get This Feeling” being a hit that summer. He was in the charts again that Christmas, this time with “I Can’t Break Away”, but two further ABC singles didn’t do as well. By 1975 he was with All Platinum who released “Love Lights” as his initial single. Chuck was back on the charts at Christmas with “I’m Needing You, Wanting You”. Later outings on All Platinum, such as “I’ve Got The Need” in 1977 didn’t however manage to chart. Chuck recorded further duets in conjunction with females; Sylvia, Angie Stone (“And I’m Tellin You I’m Not Going”), Cissy Houston and Dionne Warwick all working with him. He continued to supplement his extensive catalogue of good tracks, “All Over The World” (Nightmare; 1989) and “How Long Have You Been Loving Me” (Carolina; 1990) being added. Both the recording process and live performance scene have changed beyond all recognition since the 1960’s. But ever the professional; Chuck has continued to impress audiences. With his headlining appearance at the Legends of Motown & Soul Weekender, his UK fans will once again get the opportunity to see the man in action. It’s now impossible for anyone to witness a show at Detroit’s 20 Grand club, but no doubt Chuck will succeed in evoking the atmosphere experienced back in the day in that most famous of Motor city venues. Be sure not to miss this great event.